The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1887-12-29
THE STRIKE ENDED.
Reading Employees and Superintend-
emit Swigard
viii Arbitrate the Difficulties Now
Pending.
The Old Hands Report for Duty and
Given their Places.
All Trains Started in the Usual Or
der this Morning.

ing. After secret session which
iastsd several hours they decided to
lift the great strike on the Reading
system, pending arbitration with the
company. The five crews over whom
the trouble originated are to be sup
ported by financial aid from the en-
ployes. This decision was reached
after conference with Super
intendent Swigard last even
ing. The committee then returned
to their meeting place in Port Rich
mond and after several hours discus
sion decided to submit theiG case to ar
bitration. In the afternoon a motion
had been carried to propose arbitration
to the officials. Mr.. Sweigard met the
committee graciOusly and assured them
such plan would be entirely agreea-
bic to the Reading railroad. There
were present fourteen members of the
committee, representing all sections of
the road. The decision of the Knights
in Reading yesterday not to strike is
supposed to have had some influence
upon the action of the board. One of
the committee said this morning:
We decided that it would be far bet
ter to pay the five striking crews their
wages than jeOpardiZe so many inter-
ests at this city. MIR. Sweigard has
always treated us squarely, and we
feel we can trust him. All side issues
will be sunk and only the main point
in dispute will be arbitrated upon.
We have not yet agreed upon the time
or method of arbitration. That will be
settled at the convenience of both
sides, but as speedily as possible. We
have sent kilograms to all our asSemb-
lies to resume work at once. We feel
that the public will declare our decis-
ion a wise one, especially since the city
might be so seriously affected at the
present time. We do not anticipate
any difficulty in settling the matter.
WORK RESUMED.
NEW YORK, Dec. 27.-The following
dispatch from Philadelphia was re-
ceived this morning at the office of the
president of the Reading company:
Every man returned this morning and
all trains are running as usual. All
the engines were taken out by the old
crews and the superintendent says that
by 10 O'Clock all work will be going
on as usual. AT all stations in the
city men are showing up and the
present indications are that all bust
ness will soon be working as usual
Just heard from Reading. All re-
ported for work this morning as usual.
NO FURTHER TROUBLE ANTICIPATED.
PHILADELPHIA. Dec. 27.-All trains
are moving on the Reading railroad
this morning, and no further trouble is
anticipated. Nearly all the employees
reported for duty promptly at z o'clock
at the various departments of the
freight yards, as well as those en-
ployed at the coal wharves at Port
Richmond, and there was very little
evidence of the great strike which for
| the past few days has completely par
| alyZed the business of the entire Read
| ing railroad system. Quite a number
of employees in the various branches
failed to report, but the officials state
that these have perhaps been celebrat-
! ing Christmas too enthusiastically, and
that their places will be kept open fol
| a day or so.
WHAT SUPERINTENDENT SWEIGAR
| SAYS.
| PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 81 General
Superintendent Sweigard said this
morning that the statement that he
had agreed with the knights of Labor
to submit the questions in dispute tC
arbitration was incorrect. He said last
evening that the committee represent
ing the employees of the company called
at his Office, and he talked with them
briefly regarding the threatened strike
He held out no inducements to the
men, however, and would not listen tC
any proposition which had for its OBJ
iect the reinstatement of the men who
had been discharged for refusing to de
liver cars to TaylOr's elevator. These
men, he said, had been discharged, anC
will never again be employed by the
company. He says no agreement was
proposed, either by the committee OF
by him, and that the committee left
when he informed them he would hole
no conversation regarding the dis
charged men.
The reporter asked SWeigarC
whether he proposed to take up the
Pot Richmond difficulty, and submit
any questions involved there to arbi
tration. to which he tersely replied:
There is nothing to submit. There
is one thing in connection with this sub
ject that may as well be disposed Of
right now. The employees, or some o.
them, have accused the company of mo-
living up to Article ID of the argree
ment entered into with the men las
winter, which was to the effect that NJ
man should be discharged without frs
having a hearing. Well, about TIVE
months ago three brakemen refused Il
go out on train because one of the men
a conductor, was not Knight o.
Labor. l discharged the three mel
and when the committee called Oh
me and begged for thei
reinstatement / told them that thu
company did not propose to re-emplo,
men who left their work under sucl
circumstances. The committee fol
lowed me all over Port Richmond ant
pleaded their cause. Finally agrees
to reinstate the men after a suspension
of three months, upon this condition
That the committee should go befori
every assembly of the order and say t,
the members that hereafter any EN-
ploye who refused to perform thei
duty when ordered by an official, sucl
employe should be discharged, an,
they THE knights of Labor should no
appoint any committee to seek an ad
: justment of the matter, or require an,
explanation. Now, when l instructei
the men at Port Richmond to delive
the cars consigned to Taylor's elevator
and they refused, / DISCHARGED then
; in conformity with this agreement
! And this fully answers the complain
in regard to Article Ii. Every ma
who has been discharged will remai
discharged never again to be employee
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. q. 1887.
: DEAR SIR:-The strike ordered frol
i Port Richmond has developed the faC
+ that many of our old and faithful en-
t ployes have been compelled by othel
5 to join the organization know
q as the Knights of Labor. II
e Reading Railroad Company has new.
g objected TO its employees voluntaril
). connecting themselves with any lab
+, organization they may see fit to joil
10 1t viii protect them at all hazards al
at any cost from being forced into al
union where their own wish would
ii to remain free, and any emploYe
s. this company or Of the coal and ire
D. company guilty Of using any undue
ID improper influence upon any of o.
c. men to force them TO join any socie
z. against their free will, will. upon pro
u furnished as, be Instantly d
as missed from cur service, a
never be allowed 70 return 70 it. q